Desk construction for dictaphone machines



1932- s. T. GOURLEY ET AL DESK CONSTRUCTION FOR DICTAPHONE MACH INES Filed Nov. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l g'n uentomx Glenn/1T Gowrle EdlvardvZPu/rnell 3&

abhor/1w Feb. 9, 1932. G. T. GOURLEY ET AL 1,844,572

DESK CONSTRUCTION FOR DICTAPHONE MACHINES Filed Nov. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 GZZZnR/T Goa/r163, Edlvardflpurrw ll,

abtozmq Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GLENN T. GOURLEY AND EDWARD A. PURNELL, O1 YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE GENERAL FIREPROOFING COMPANY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO DESK CONSTRUCTION FOR DICTAPHONE MACHINES Application filed November 21, 1930.

This invention relates to furniture, and more particularly to a novel desk construction adapted to conveniently house and render expeditiously useful a dictaphone machine or the like.

In accordance with the usual practice, dictating machines are mounted on a stand which may be moveu about, and when not in use require a cover to protect the mechanism from dust and the like. Furthermore, it is frequently necessary to attach and detach manually, the machine to a source of electric current, with the attendant nuisance and moonvenience of a long cord lying on the floor or suspended overhead. The use of machines in this way is not only frequently a source of annoyance but if the machine is not properly covered when not in use the accumulation of dust and grit increases wear and reduces the etlicieiicy of the machine. Furthermore, this practice necessitates the use of an additional piece of an apparatus in an ofiiceand where space is a factor extra equipment is always a problem.

Accordingly, the present invention has primarily in view a cabinet for housing a dictating machine of the type usually used in dictaphone equipment, said cabinet being preferably in the form of a desk having a drawer compartment in which the machine is conveniently mounted adjacent the seat location for the desk so that when the machine is not in use and the drawer is closed the machine is effectually housed and protected,

and, on the other hand, when it is to be made of the invention is better understood, the

same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of Serial No. 497,278.

the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a desk embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective View of one of the inner corners of the drawer showing the switch contact carried thereby.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the inside of the desk showing the permanent switch terminals arranged therein.

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the contacts engaged.

Similar reference characters designate cor responding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the same includes in its organization a cabinet of the desk type having the desk top 1 and one or more side pedestals 2, only one of which is shown, and containing suitable drawers 3 and 4-. The drawer 4 may be of the usual type used in the constructions of this character, and in the example shown is a drawer of the roller type suspension used in a metallic desk construction.

The dictating machine designated generally as D is mounted within the drawer which may also contain a holder 5 for dictating records. The dictating apparatus is provided with an electrical cord 6 which is preferably led througl'i an opening 7 in one of the walls of the drawer, for example the back wall, and the ends of the wires 8 of the cord 6 are permanently attached to a pair of switch contact members 9-9 suitably mounted on an insulating base 10 carried by the side wall of the drawer.

As will be observed from Figure 4 the front of the drawer housing adjacent the front edge of the cabinet is also provided with an insulating base or support 11 carrying therewith a pair of contact fingers 12-12 which are preferably of spring metal and similar to the contacts 9-9 except that they are reversely related or disposed. The contacts 1212 are permanently live contacts due to the fact that they have connected thereto the wires 13-13 forming part of an all) electrical connector 14 which is provided with a plug for connecting in a conventional outlet of the type usually found in the walls or baseboards of rooms.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the construction and arrangement is such that when the drawer 4 is pulled outwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the contacts ,99 and contacts 1212 will be in engagement. Assuming that the plug 15 is fitted in an outlet, the mere act of pulling the drawer 4: outwardly will establish electrical communication between the cords 16 and 14 and the dictating machine will be instantly in a position for use. When the operator has finished dictating, the mere act of placing the dictating machine in storage, that is by moving the drawer 4 inwardly, will automatically disconnect the terminals 9 and 13 and break the electrical circuit. Therefore, by moving the drawer to its outward limit the desired electrical connection is established and the mere act of pushing the drawer inwardly breaks the electrical connection.

The construction set forth not only has the advantages previously mentioned, namely that ofcompletely housing or protecting the dictating machine when not in use and rendering the same ready for use by merely pulling the drawer outwardly, but it also eliminates the usual electrical cord or connection which customarily must be laid on the floor between the dictating machine and the source of current. Cords of this type are obviously in the way of foot 'trafiic and if mounted overhead are always more or less of an-obstruction as well as presenting an unsightly appearance to an oflice. These objections are readily overcome by the present construction and. arrangement while at the same time decided advantages of the character referred to result from its use- Nithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will, of course,vbe understood that changes in the form, proportheir signatures.

GLENN T GOURLEY. EDWVARD A. PURNELL.

tion and minor details of construction may 7 be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim 1. A cabinet inclusive of a sliding drawer to support an electrically operable device, a

=5 single insulating member mounted on the cabinet, a pair of-contacts mounted on said member and adapted to have conductors connected therewith for connection with a source of current, a single insulating member mounted on the drawer, and a pair of contacts mounted on said second insulating member for engagement with the first mentioned pair of contacts when the drawer is opened, said drawer carried contacts being adapted for electrical connection with an 

